City Building Inspector Glenn Hathaway said the cause of the collapsed pavement was likely a “mixture of water and the ground being frozen,” the same recipe that causes potholes.

The truck landed partially on the passenger's side inside the hole that was actually a storage area for the club at the rear of the building.

Police and fire personnel cordoned off the area. Big Wheel Truck Sales Recovery Team of East Freetown hoisted the truck out of the hole. It swayed in the air for a few seconds before being gently placed on the ground.

Less than a couple of minutes later, another large chunk of the ground sunk inside the hole.

“I could see the pieces falling as we were working,” Hathaway said.

Hathaway said the collapsed area, which butted up against a stone wall, would all be demolished and the site made secure overnight until fencing could be installed today.

Silveira waited behind yellow police tape to get a look at his vehicle, now badly dented on the passenger's side and with a window broken. There appeared to be front-end damage, too. Hathaway said he predicted that the frame was bent.

“I have no truck,” Silveira said.

The Academica building, owned by a group of shareholders who are members of the club, will likely be footing the bill for the damage.

Member Junior Paquette said the paving in the collapsed area was completed roughly 20 years ago. He said he believes it was a dirt lot before that time.

Paquette said the club had insurance, and he was just happy no one was injured.

“It’s good that nobody was in the truck, that nobody died,” Paquette said.